A Reflection on Divine Mercy Sunday The opportunity for an incredible Grace from God!
I began praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet and novena some 20 years ago because my faith-filled sister in Ohio (“Saint Su Su”), told me to. Although generally aware of the forgiveness tucked into the Divine Mercy prayers, I didn’t truly appreciate the significance of this immense blessing until one spring when my kids and I visited the Divine Mercy Shrine in Stockbridge. As we roamed the grounds and visited the bookstore and church, I learned so much about this special day and why thousands of people pilgrimage there each year as part of their Divine Mercy devotion.
Divine Mercy had its origins in the 1930’s when Jesus appeared in visions to Sr. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun. During the visions, Jesus asked that the Feast of Divine Mercy be established so that people would turn to the Lord and find refuge in His unfathomable mercy. He asked her to spread the message to trust in Jesus’ endless forgiveness and to live a life mercifully to others. Pope Saint John Paul II had such a great devotion to Divine Mercy that, in 2000, he established the Divine Mercy feast day on the Sunday following Easter. Then, in 2002, he established a Plenary Indulgence with a Special Grace to be available to anyone who follows specific Divine Mercy guidelines. The steps to receive this incredible grace are:
1) Attend Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday or the Saturday Vigil, receive Eucharistic Communion and pray for the Pope’s intentions which, during April, are for health care workers.
2) Participate in a public devotion to Divine Mercy, such as the 3 pm Divine Mercy service at St. Mary on Sunday, April 24th.
3) Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation within 20 days of Divine Mercy Sunday, committing to full detachment from all sin.
Divine Mercy Sunday offers the amazing opportunity to be returned to a state of Baptismal grace and I eagerly look forward to the 3pm service next Sunday as a step to receiving this spiritual re-birth. What an incredible gift from our Divinely Merciful Lord and Savior!